"The affections are like lightning: you cannot tell where they will strike till they have fallen"

Human emotions and attachments, likened here to lightning, possess an unpredictable and uncontrollable nature. Like bolts of lightning that flash without warning, striking seemingly at random, affections and feelings often emerge suddenly, directed at unexpected people or things. Such emotional connections, whether romantic, platonic, or empathetic, are rarely matters of deliberate planning or conscious decision. They arise, often inexplicably, shaped by chance encounters, fleeting moments, or subtle affinities whose origins defy rational explanation.

This simile also emphasizes hindsight as our only clear vantage point. Only after affections have established themselves do we recognize where and how they have taken root. The mystery of attraction and attachment lies in this uncertainty: one may attempt to predict or control the heart’s inclinations, but such efforts are often futile. The ‘strike’ of affection arrives unexpectedly, leaving its mark before understanding unfolds. Attempts to anticipate emotional bonds or direct them according to logic or practicality are often undone by the spontaneous nature of human feeling.

This unpredictability is part of what makes connections between individuals so extraordinary and, at times, bewildering. It speaks to the inherent vulnerability and excitement of emotional life. To be open to affection is to accept the risk that it may develop in unanticipated directions, toward people or ideas previously unimagined. The metaphor suggests a humility in the face of these powerful, uncontrollable forces; one must acknowledge that emotional truths often reveal themselves only after they have altered the landscape of experience, much like a lightning strike whose power and impact become clear only after its brief, dazzling flash has startled the night.

Ultimately, the observation points to the wonder and humility required in matters of the heart, inviting both acceptance and awe at the mysterious, uncontrollable forces that shape human connection.